Eye-on-Retail Daily Tipsheet Archives

CVS pilots Google’s new Nearby beacon and app program by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. “Google Nearby lets retailers send beacon messages to shoppers via the Google Play app. CVS is one of the first retailers to jump on board.”Read more

Kroger’s Houston president to retire, replacement named by Olivia Pulsinelli at Houston Business Journal. “Bill Breetz, will retire after 44 years with the Cincinnati-based grocer, effective Aug. 26. Taking his place on Aug. 28 will be Marlene Stewart, currently president of the company’s Dillons division.”Read more | Read the release

BOSTON – Peek inside the new mini Target near Boston University by Megan Woolhouse at Boston Globe. “The newest Target to open in Boston, on Commonwealth Avenue, is small. Really, really small. The floor area of the new store, opening Wednesday, is about one-10th the size of some Target locations…”Read more

CHICAGO – Target with Freshii, Starbucks opening next week near Lincoln Park by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “The roughly 33,000-square-foot store at 2650 N. Clark St. will be the first of the Minneapolis-based chain’s smaller stores to have a Freshii restaurant inside.”Read more | See the 14 pics

Pirate Joe’s set to reopen this week after being closed for four months by Linda Nguyen at Canadian Press via Toronto Star. “(Founder Mike) Hallatt is banned at every Trader Joe’s store in the U.S. but admits he still visits from time to time in disguise, sometimes donning glasses and a pinstriped suit. Pirate Joe’s now operates three vans and employs about half a dozen shoppers.”Read more

Former PBR rider turned Bass Pro marketer talks career by Geoff Pickle at Springfield Business Journal. “Married to wife Jennifer, that means company founder (Johnny) Morris is not only Snyder’s father-in-law, but also he’s his boss. “It’s alright,” Snyder said jokingly of the dual relationship with Morris. “No, it’s great. We have a good time.”Read more

Dick’s to spend $100M on distribution center in New York by Chris Fleisher at Trib Live. “The distribution center will be the size of 11 football fields and supply more than 200 Dick’s stores throughout the Northeast.”Read more

KREBS – Cici’s Pizza card breach at 130+ Locations “The disclosure comes more than a month after KrebsOnSecurity first broke the news of the intrusion, offering readers a sneak peak inside the sprawling cybercrime machine that thieves used to siphon card data from Cici’s customers in real-time.”Read more

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SCRAMBLING TO SHUTTER – Sports Authority accelerates store closings, could be gone by end of July by Peg Brickley at Dow Jones via Denver Post. “Managers have been instructed on procedures for wiping the computers, locking up and walking away, as the dying athletic gear seller prepares for the final stage of its bankruptcy, according to seven store managers interviewed by The Wall Street Journal.”Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

J.C. Penney announces same-day pick up of jcp.com orders in all stores at Reuters.Read more

CNBC: Back-to-school shopping season is here, but don’t expect fireworks by Krystina Gustafson. “…those who planned to start shopping early in July said they would spend roughly $619, those who intend to wait until late August said they’ll shell out just $394.”Read more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Army & Air Force Exchange Service Celebrates 121 Years of Service “To celebrate 121 years of service and support, shoppers who use their MILITARY STAR card from July 22 through July 24 will receive double reward points, earning 4 points for every $1 spent…”Read the release

Home Depot fighting attorneys’ demand for $8.5M in fees for data breach case by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “The company says attorneys who battled it in court over its data breach shouldn’t get more than $4 million.”Business Chronicle subscription required

Wal-Mart’s online marketplace picks up sellers and momentum by Fareeha Ali at Internet Retailer. “Wal-Mart added 100 new sellers to its marketplace in May and 150 merchants in June, with hundreds more expected to be added by the holidays, says Seth Beal, the retailer’s senior vice president of global marketplace. Wal-Mart offers 11 million products online and plans to add 1 million items per month to the assortment, primarily through its marketplace, Beal says.”Read more

Amazon wants to turn streetlights and church steeples into drone pit stops for its delivery service by Alfred Ng at New York Daily News. “(Amazon) recently had its patent approved for docking stations on several high spots around cities, which would function like a post office in the sky. Like pigeons, the drones would fly and land on streetlights, office buildings, phone poles, radio towers, church steeples, parking decks and other high spots to rest its “wings.”Read more / See the patent drawing